Tuesday, May 31, 2016

With the close of the 2015-16 school year, it is time to congratulate another group of outstanding seniors who formally will become graduates on June 4, 2016. Two hundred and twenty graduates are scheduled to receive their diploma representing the Greenville Schools Class of 2016. The class has had many academic and extra-curricular accomplishments while at Greenville and we commend each and every graduate. We wish all graduates much success and happiness in their future endeavors. Graduates are now welcomed as our alumni.

Our district now turns its attention to the preparation for next year. Instructionally we continue to focus on teaching twenty first century learning skills to all of our students. We also continue to center our curriculum on national and state required learning standards and ongoing preparation for online assessments including the American Institute for Research (AIR), and End of Course Exams. We are confident the students and staff will become more adjusted to online assessments as we move forward.

At the high school next year, we will continue to implement the College Credit Plus courses for the second year. As you know, this replaced the former Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program. The district works with both Edison State and Sinclair Community College on the College Credit Plus coursework. Many of our students took advantage of the C.C.P. program last year and we anticipate the same next year.

At the elementary level we are moving forward with our one to one initiative with technology at Woodland Primary School even further. We expect to have all students at Woodland using iPads next year. We also have supplemented our learning curriculum at Woodland with the E/Spark Learning. Four hundred twenty-six (426) students at Woodland participated in the E/Spark curriculum. This online instruction provides differentiated instruction beneficial to all students at their present reading and mathematics levels. Both kindergarten and first grade students saw great instructional percentile gains this year. Next year this program will expand to all students at the primary level, grades K-2, and perhaps even further. The E/Spark program mixed with our Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) online testing assessment are assisting us with reading level gains of our younger population of students.

In 2016 Darke DD and Midmark Corporation embarked on a journey to fulfill an employment need. One was interested in increasing their workforce diversity, while the other has a passion for assisting individuals with disabilities obtain jobs. This story explains the results that met both of their needs…

Preparations for the 35th Annual Annie Oakley Golf Tournament are underway! Last year 100 golfers signed up for the 18-hole event, which benefited the Cancer Association of Darke County. Committee members for the tournament are Matt & Angie Arnold, Kent & Lynn James, Todd and Beth Durham, Ray & Bettye Laughlin, Ed & Kay Curry, Larry Ullery and Christine Lynn.

Last year’s tournament was very successful and the event raised $16,500.00 for the Cancer Association of Darke County. This fundraiser helped the association to provide benefits to over 250 Darke County residents battling cancer. These benefits were provided in the form of reimbursement for medications, transportation, medical supplies and nutritional supplements such as Ensure.

This year’s tournament is scheduled for July 25th at the Turtle Creek Golf Course and will feature a shotgun start with scramble format, chances to win great prizes and dinner for the golfer and their guest. Most importantly, the proceeds from this fun and exciting event will once again benefit the local and independent Cancer Association of Darke County.

Lunch will be served at 11:15 a.m. with tee off time scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Each golfer has the opportunity to win a new car for a hole-in-one on the sixth and seventeenth hole. Any golfer getting a hole-in-one in the eighth hole will win their choice of premium golf equipment. The golfer getting a hole-in-one on the eleventh hole will win a Yamaha Golf Cart.

Additional information and entry forms for the 35th annual tournament are available at the Cancer Association of Darke County (PH: 937-548-9960, or EMAIL: director@cadcinfo.org) or from any tournament committee member.

Darke County Soccer Association wrapped up Spring Youth Soccer at Greenville North Park this past weekend. DCSA would like to thank the 230+ participants, coaches, parents, Samantha Grim and the GHS Women’s Soccer team and also our sponsor: Harvest Moon Manor.

Harvest Moon Manor was established on October 31, 2005 as a Bed & Breakfast. It is widely known as a haunted Darke County property. The owners, Randy Elam, a retired insurance executive from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and his wife, Trish, a retired nurse from Grant Hospital, moved to Greenville in 2008. The manor now focuses on their fruit farm and is looking at developing a variety of apples and ciders.

They are pleased to sponsor DCSA, since their daughter is an avid soccer player. “Dave Ernst does a great job and we will continue to sponsor them” says Randy Elam.

DCSA would like to also announce that as of June 1, 2016, Jason Snyder will be filling the role of Club President. Dave Ernst will be stepping down from this position on May 31, 2016 after holding the position for many years. Any questions concerning DCSA Youth or Select can be directed to Jason Snyder at 937-423-1703 or dcsasoccer@gmail.com.

Because a silver-spotted skipper’s flight is fast and powerful, it is almost impossible to observe on the wing. This species is best observed while it is visiting flowers or perching on leaves.

Darke County Parks needs help! Butterfly habitat is declining, and scientists need to monitor their populations very closely. Every Friday at 2pm from now through September, join a naturalist to hike a pre-set path and record all the butterflies observed. These numbers will then be sent on to the Ohio Lepidopterists for scientific study. There’s no need to be an expert. A staff member will be present for the hike, and field guides will be provided. Hikes will occur as long as temperatures are above 60 without rain. For more information, please contact the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165 or email info@darkecountyparks.org.

Greenville – Greenville Federal Bank has once again shown their support of the Partnering for Progress (P4P) Initiative by contributing for 2016. This collaborative public/private economic development effort has brought remarkable growth and opportunity to Darke County, with the bank participating since 2009.

“We’re glad to show our support of an organization that has brought such great benefit to the residents of Darke County, “ commented Jeff Kniese, President of Greenville Federal. “Partnering for Progress has spurred growth and implemented new programs that have had a very positive impact on the future of the entire community. This is obviously something the bank wishes to continue to support and be a part of in any way we can.”

The goal of Partnering for Progress is to foster opportunity for Darke County business in areas such as existing industry support, resource development, marketing and new business recruitment, and workforce development. The initiative, which began in 2009, has contributed to the creation of over 1,900 jobs, retention/creation of more than $60,000,000 in payroll, and has helped produce over $170,000,000 in new local capital investment. P4P has also launched a workforce development initiative which works with existing and emerging workforce to help alleviate hiring issues for expanding companies.

“The Darke County CIC Board of Directors sincerely appreciates not only the financial support, but the personal commitment investors like Greenville Federal have made to assist in our efforts,” stated Dennis Baker, CIC Treasurer. Board President, Dave Keiser added, “With the help of our investors, the entire organization will continue to move forward with programs and efforts designed to assist Darke County businesses in any way we can.”

Those interested in learning more about the county’s economic development efforts can call the Economic Development Office at 937-548-3250.

Greenville Federal, the oldest bank headquartered in Darke County, has focused on the communities they serve by building long-term highly valued partnerships with businesses and individuals since 1883. Greenville Federal offers the most ATMs in Darke County to better serve the communities and its customers and continues to support several economic development programs. Supporting initiatives such as Partnering for Progress that significantly contribute back to the community has always been a hallmark of Greenville Federal’s long Darke County history.

The Edison Foundation at Edison State Community College is pleased to announce the entertainment for this year’s Holiday Evening event. The Texas Tenors are set to perform a special holiday show on Wednesday, December 7 at the college’s Piqua campus.

With their Emmy Award winning PBS special now airing across the country, and Billboard chart topping albums, it’s easy to see why The Texas Tenors are America’s favorite new tenors.

Since their debut six years ago on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, The Texas Tenors have accumulated a long list of accolades and excited fans. They have performed more than 1,000 concerts around the world, including a 24-city tour in the United Kingdom, Shanghai, China and collaborated with some of the most prestigious symphonies in the country.

From Bruno Mars to Puccini, Marcus Collins, John Hagen and JC Fisher treat audiences to a unique blend of country, classical, Broadway and current pop music. They use breathtaking vocals, humor and a touch of cowboy charm to create an unforgettable live show.

Other notable performances have included NBA games, the PBR World Championships in Las Vegas and a variety of charity events. John, Marcus and JC are always ready to give back and promote awareness for organizations near and dear to their hearts including The Child Fund International, Homes for our Troops and The Mission Project.

The Texas Tenors proudly remain self produced and managed with a commitment to quality, family entertainment for all ages. Whether it is stage, television, recording or multi-media projects, these “three friends with a dream” never forget their roots.

Proceeds from Holiday Evening directly support Edison State’s General Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to more than 4,000 traditional and non-traditional students throughout their academic pursuits.

The evening’s festivities begin with hors de ‘oeuvres at 6:30 p.m., followed by a special performance from The Texas Tenors at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $125 each and available online at www.edisonohio.edu/holidayevening. For more information or to be added to the Holiday Evening mailing list, contact Julie Slattery by emailing jslattery@edisonohio.edu or calling 937.778.7805.

Maid Rite, a close neighbor to the The Garst Museum and the National Annie Oakley Center, has once again donated to be a sponsor of the upcoming June 11 Annie’s Star Spangled Gala. Their **Gold Star ** sponsorship will help with Museum operations and The National Annie Oakley Center.

The doors open for the Gala, a casual event, at 6:30 p.m. at the Garst Museum. This is a FUNdraiser for the Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center. Come and join in on this great evening of live and silent auctions, lots of fun raffles, door prizes, and light hors d’oeuvres catered by Montage. Event tickets are $20.00 per person in advance or $15.00 with Garst membership discount and advance reservations. Plan to attend by calling the Garst Museum. at 937.548.5250. Reserve tables are available for groups of six or more. You can view the many auction and raffle prizes at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/garstmuseum/

Greenville, OH: First United Methodist Church will offer free music, a movie, and refreshments on Friday, June 3rd. Joseph Helfrich will entertain people of all ages from 6 until 9 p.m. Joseph is a folk singer and storyteller with a large repertoire for children and adults. His First Friday program will include a variety of musical instruments and styles, with a healthy dose of humor.

At 9 p.m., the church will show a popular family movie. “We’d love to tell you what movie we’re showing. It’s too bad the church video license doesn’t let us announce the title to the general public,” said Pastor Angela Meeks. Meeks adds that individuals can contact the church to learn the title. Popcorn and other refreshments will be offered free of charge throughout the evening.

First UMC is becoming a favorite place for families on First Fridays. “We know that families are looking for safe and affordable ways to have fun in downtown Greenville,” Pastor Meeks said. “Helping meet that need fits perfectly with our vision for ministry.” The church plans to provide family activities during every First Friday Downtown. First Friday activities at First UMC are free and open to the public.

First United Methodist offers family worship at 10 a.m. every Sunday. The church is located at 202 West 4th Street in Greenville. For more information, call 937-548-3075 or visit www.firstmethodistgreenville.org.

When asked about cash rent and land values in Darke County, Sam Custer, OSU Extension Agriculture Educator, says “the word of 2016 is variable”. “In the last nine months we have seen tracts of farm land in the county sell for over $19,000 per acre and other tracts less than $6500 per acre” Custer said.

What leads to this variability? “Soil type, production history, location and emotions”, said Custer.

Barry Ward, Assistant Extension Professor, Leader Production Business Management, recently release the latest study results for land values and cash values. The complete survey can be found at http://go.osu.edu/2016landvalues.

The “Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents” study was conducted from February through April in 2016. The study is an opinion based survey used to poll professionals with a knowledge of Ohio’s cropland values and rental rates. Surveyed groups include professional farm managers, rural appraisers, agricultural lenders, OSU Extension educators, and Farm Service Agency personnel. Landowners and farmers are represented, but as a minority of the survey respondents.

Ohio cropland values and cash rental rates are projected to decrease in 2016. According to the Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Survey bare cropland values in western Ohio are expected to decrease from 4.8% to 11.1% in 2016 depending on the region and land class.

Cash rents are expected to decline from 5.6% to 7.6% depending on the region and land class. For more information about OSU Extension, Darke County, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu or the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page.

Monday, May 30, 2016

On May 6, 2016 at 3:58 PM Darke County Sheriffs Deputies, along with Greenville Township Fire Department, Greenville Rescue and Careflight, responded to an injury accident on US127 in the area of Childrens Home Bradford Rd.

Preliminary investigation reveals that a black 2012 Ford Fiesta driven by Nathan Nisley (33), of Rawson Ohio, changed lanes and struck a northbound 2001 Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle. The occupants of the motorcycle were Justin Ungericht (32), of Greenville and Tyra Vanatta (25), also of Greenville. Both occupants on the motorcycle were ejected and neither person was wearing a helmet. Mr. Ungericht and Ms. Vanatta were transported to Miami Valley Hospital by careflight. Ms. Vanatta was released and Mr. Ungericht is currently in fair condition.

During the course of the investigation Deputies learned that the incident appeared to be the result of road rage. Deputies arrested Mr. Nisley on two counts of felonious assault both a felony in the second degree. Mr. Nisley is being held at the Darke County Sheriffs Office where he is awaiting his initial appearance.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Greenville, OH - The Greenville Police Department willjoin local and national law enforcement
officers and highway safety advocates all across the country for the 2016 national Click lt or Ticket
seat belt enforcement mobilization, May 23-June 1, 2016.

During the mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts, both day and night.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2004, seat belt nonuse alone caused an estimated $18 billion in economic costs to society. When people don't wear seat belts, the potential costs increase because unbelted crash victims receive worse injuries and more fatalities than belted crash victims. Inpatient rehabilitation costs for motor vehicle injuries average $11,265 per patient. On average, it costs more than twice as much to treat an unbelted victim than a belted one, due to these increased injuries. 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their safety belts at the time of the crash. In 2012, of the fatal crashes where safety belt information was known, 61 percent of the people killed on Ohio's roadways were not wearing a safety restraint.

"Too many drivers and passengers are not wearing their safety belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy," said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director, John Born. "Our goal is to save more lives; therefore, our law enforcement partners will be out enforcing safety belt laws around the clock."

"Many more nighttime traffic deaths can be prevented if more motorists simply start wearing their seat belts. That's why the Greenville Police Department is strongly supporting enhanced nighttime enforcement of seat belt laws during the May 23 - June 1, 2016, Click It or Ticket campaign," said Chief Dennis L. Butts. "We will be out in force to remind drivers and occupants to always wear their seat belts - both day and night."

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click lt or Ticket mobilization is credited with increasing the
national belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed usage rate of 85 percent in 2010.

Belt use saves thousands of lives each year across America. In 2009 alone, seat belts saved 12,713 lives nationwide.

Law enforcement will be cracking down on Click lt or Ticket violators around the clock. Local motorists should be prepared to buckle up. lf law enforcement finds you on the road unbuckled anytime or anywhere, you can expect to get a ticket - not a warning. No excuses and no exceptions," said Chief Butts.

While this year's Click lt or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs through June 1st, troopers will continue their zero tolerance policy year-round when motorists are stopped for other violations and are found to not be wearing their safety belt.

More than 900 law enforcement partners around Ohio, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, will be aggressively enforcing the law during the mobilization, which runs May 23 - June 1,2016. "lt's simple - safety belts save lives and reduce injury in crashes," said John Born, Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety. "It is the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your friends."

Remember this May 23rd to June 1st: lt's Click It or Ticket. Buckle up and encourage your loved
ones to do the same. You'll save the cost of a ticket and may even save a life.

GREENVILLE, Ohio- The Downtown Greenville Farmers’ Market will return on Saturday, June 4th in front of the Darke County Courthouse on the corner of 4th and Broadway. The market will take place every Saturday until October 8th from 9 am to 1 pm.

The Downtown Greenville Farmers’ Market has been a Darke County staple since 1998. This year promises to be another great year for fresh produce, baked goods and crafts from local vendors.

Would you like to see your items at the Farmers' Market? Vendor applications are accepted throughout the season! For application inquiries or further information about the Farmers’ Market, visit Main Street Greenville’s website or contact their office.

Main Street Greenville is a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in Historic Downtown Greenville. To learn more about the organization, visit www.DowntownGreenville.org or call 937-548-4998. You can also like the organization on Facebook to receive updates on a regular basis (www.facebook.com/mainstreetgreenville).

What happens when a Music Performance Major, a retired School Nurse, a Guidance Councilor’s Secretary, a student Nurse Practitioner, and a Hair Technician get together? The answer of course is the hilarious comedy; “Nunsense”.

“Nunsense”, the upcoming production by Towne & Country Players is a bit nostalgic in that it was first produced about 20 years ago in Versailles. It was soon followed up by its’ sister production, “Nunsense Jamboree”. Now a whole new generation can laugh and enjoy the Little Sisters of Hoboken in our encore performance of one of our most requested shows.

To help get everyone in the mood for our Little Sisters to meet the community; the Sisters along with Towne & Country Players’ members will be doing the community meal on June 1st at Trinity at the usual time. You can meet the Sisters as they serve the meal and might even sing a song or two.

Tickets are now available and may be ordered on line via our Facebook page or website. Performance dates are Thursday June 23rd and Friday June 24th, at 7:30p.m. as well as Sunday June 26th at 2:00 p.m. All performances are in the beautiful air conditioned Versailles Performing Arts Center.

Each performance will also benefit Community groups. Opening night will benefit the Community Meals Project, Friday will benefit Relay for Life, and Sunday will benefit the Community Bible School 2017. These amazing groups can always use a little extra help and the Sisters are all about helping the Community!

What a fun summer activity for you to plan and enjoy with friends. Please note the unusual dates selections are based on what you’ve told us works for your busy schedules. So join us for an hour or two for some simple, loveable, Nunsense!

John Swallow, President & CEO of Second National Bank presenting acheck to Dave Keiser, President of Darke County CIC

Second National Bank has once again contributed to Darke County’s public-private economic development effort, Partnering for Progress. SNB has been a great supporter of the initiative since its inception in 2008. To date, no other financial institution has contributed as much to P4P as Second National Bank has overall, or in any given year. This support goes above and beyond just the financial aspect as officers of SNB have been a part of the Darke County CIC Board and advisory committees, as well as being a consistent participant in P4P events.

“Partnering for Progress supports the entire Darke County community and beyond. The jobs created through its business partnerships and the training provided through its workforce development programs have the potential to impact everyone in the community,” stated President & CEO of Second National Bank, John Swallow. This is the kind of widespread initiative that we plan to continue to support.”

According to the Economic Development Office, the P4P initiative has worked with local businesses to help create or retain almost 2,000 jobs (mostly in the manufacturing sector) since 2010. It has also assisted with recent major business expansions such as Whirlpool, Midmark, FRAM, PolyOne, and JAFE Decorating. P4P also works to lay the infrastructure for future growth through its workforce development efforts, land and building development, and regional partnerships. For more information on Partnering for Progress, please call the Economic Development Office at 937-548-3250.

Headquartered in Greenville, Second National Bankis a part of the Park National Corporation, a group of strong community banks based in Ohio. Second National Bank was originally charted in July 1883 and has 8 offices in Greenville, Versailles, Arcanum, Celina, and Ft. Recovery. The bank was voted the Best Bank in Darke County the past eleven years and Best Mortgage Company and Best Investment Services Company again this year.

State of the Heart Care has been named a 2016 Hospice Honors recipient by Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, the leading provider of Web-based home health and hospice software, outsourced billing and coding services, and advanced analytics. Hospice Honors is a prestigious program that recognizes hospices providing the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view.

“Hospice Honors is a landmark compilation of hospices that provide the best patient and caregiver experiences,” said Bobby Robertson, President and CEO of HEALTHCAREfirst. “I am extremely proud of State of the Heart Care for achieving this highest of honors and I congratulate them on their success.”

Award criteria were based on Hospice CAHPS survey results for an evaluation period of April through September 2015. In order to receive the award, hospices must have partnered with Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, as their survey partner and must have had at least one completed survey returned in each quarter of the evaluation period. Award recipients were identified by evaluating hospices’ performance on a set of 24 quality indicator measures. Individual hospice performance scores were aggregated from all surveys with a final survey status of complete for the evaluation period and were compared on a question-by-question basis to a national performance score calculated from all partnering hospices contained in Deyta Analytics’ Hospice CAHPS database.

State of the Heart Care Director of Business Development, Laura Retter, credits the receipt of this honor with having a truly dedicated staff. She said, “You can’t receive an honor of this magnitude without a caring and compassionate staff who have a true heart for hospice. It wouldn’t matter what else we did as an agency, if we didn’t have the highest quality staff, our efforts wouldn’t amount to anything.”

Darke County Parks Director Roger Van Frank and Volunteer Coordinator/Naturalist Kathi McQueen are proud of the new signage at the Nature Center.

Recently the Darke County Park District completed a project incorporating technology and greener practices into its daily operations. Through the generous support from the Ami McClurkin Community Fund administered by the Darke County Foundation, Darke County Parks was able to purchase a large flat screen television equipped with software to display photos, advertise upcoming events, and display the daily program schedule. Not only does this project save physical resources, but because it can be updated from an office PC, it also is much less labor intensive requiring far fewer staff hours to keep up to date, freeing up more time for educational pursuits. The Nature Center has over 50,000 visitor occasions each year, and all of those visitors use the digital display every day that the park offices are open to stay informed about daily programing and upcoming special events. The Darke County Park District would like to thank the Ami McClurkin Community Fund and the Darke County Foundation for their generous support to make this project come to fruition.

Versailles Health Care Center would like to invite anyone considering joint replacement surgery to a FREE Total Joint Replacement Class. The class will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 6 pm in The Rehab Clinic at Versailles Health Care Center. Dr. Chad Weber, Orthopedic Surgeon and Rehab Medical Director, along with Versailles Health Care Center Therapists, will provide information about the joint replacement journey. Information about preparation, hospital procedures, risks, and rehab will be discussed. This class will be beneficial for anyone, whether you are in the beginning stages of contemplating joint replacement surgery or have your surgery scheduled. The class will include handouts and a question/answer session. Light refreshments will be provided.

Call Stephen Winner at 937.526.0130 for more information or to RSVP for this exciting event.

Over 75 regional leaders attended the Edison Foundation’s 13th annual Mosaic of Community Leadership conference on Wednesday, May 18 in the Robinson Theater of Edison State Community College’s Piqua campus.

The one–day conference featured Mr. Jerold Panas–a noteworthy author and founding partner of one of the nation’s most highly regarded firms in the field of campaign services and financial resource development.

The conference, which was made possible through the continued support and generosity of The Paul G. Duke Foundation, gave participants the opportunity to engage in lectures, network with area leaders, and enjoy lunch.

The Mosaic of Community Leadership conference is held each year in conclusion of the Academy for Community Leadership (the Academy) series which is designed to help individuals make a difference on their not-for-profit boards and in their communities.

Those who successfully completed the Academy series were presented with graduation certificates during the conference. Lorna Swisher, Executive Director of Mainstreet Piqua, served as the facilitator for this year’s Academy. The Edison Foundation, the Miami County Foundation, and the Troy Foundation made scholarships available for students to participate in the Academy.

To be added to next years Mosaic of Community Leadership conference mailing list, contact Julie Slattery by calling 937.778.7805 or emailing jslattery@edisonohio.edu.

The 2016 Children’s Summer Reading Program “On Your Mark, Get Set...READ” begins Wednesday June 1st at the Greenville Publci Library. Kids 10 & under can sign up to read and win great prizes! Just request a reading sheet from the Circ Desk and keep track of your reading. Each week you can get it stamped and pick out a prize. The drawing for the grand prizes is July 27th - four Kings Island tickets, two bicycles, and lots of books and book bags!

Mark your calendars for these events: Storytimes on Tuesdays at 11:00 ages 4 & up and Thursdays at 11:00 ages 3 & under; Lego Club on Thursdays June 9th and July 14th at 1:00 for ages 6-11.

Again Family Fun Day is sponsored by generous grants from the Friends of the Library and the Greyson James Steyer Memorial Trust. Come and enjoy great talent each Wednesday starting June 8th - July 27th at 11:00 on the Library lawn. Bring blankets or chairs! In case of rain we go to the fellowship hall of the First Congregational Church.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Union City – On May 25, 2016 at 8:31 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Union City OH PD and Union City Ohio Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the 200 BLK. of SR571 reference to a motorcycle crash with injury.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Larry LeMaster (47) of Union City, OH was driving a 2005 Harley Davidson Road King westbound on SR571 when LeMaster was negotiating a curve and drove off the right side of the road down in to a ditch. LeMaster lost control of the motorcycle and the motorcycle overturned ejecting LeMaster.

Union City Rescue treated Lemaster and he was transported to Miami Valley Hospital by Care Flight, where he is currently listed in critical condition.

The Darke County Sheriff’s Office accident re-construction team was called to the scene. This accident remains under investigation. LeMaster was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Investigators are still working the accident scene and it is possible that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident. At this time the cause of the accident is unknown and if anyone witnessed the accident, or has any information pertaining to the crash you are asked to call the Darke County Sheriff Office at (937)548-3399.

The Darke County Historical Society (DCHS) is dedicated to preserving the history of the county and fostering education on its relevance to the American experience. The DCHS operates the Garst Museum and its mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, study, and interpret materials relating to the history and culture of Darke County. Clay Johnson, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Garst Museum, notes that “For those familiar with the county’s history, the area is rich in its history and traditions and its significance touches so many in the community. The Garst Museum recognizes this importance and feels it is important to honor those that join in its mission in celebrating the county’s past. As a result, the DCHS’s Heritage Award has been given annually since 2004 to an outstanding citizen or organization for their distinguished contributions which help connect people to Darke County’s past.”

Dr. Johnson continues “The Darke County Parks District is truly representational of why the Heritage Award was created and I feel they are so deserving of this recognition, not only for what Roger Van Frank and the Darke County Parks does for the museum, but also for what they provide for the county and its citizens. From school tours to the Gathering at Garst, the Parks District has been a stellar partner in sharing the vision of preserving and interpreting the county’s history for generations to come. I was very pleased to have the honor of presenting the 2016 Heritage Award to Roger and the Darke County Parks District.”

“I was completely surprised and was absolutely elated that we were chosen for the Heritage Award,” said Darke County Parks Director Roger Van Frank. “This is truly representative of a group effort between staff, commissioners, and volunteers who help maintain our historical values.” While the Darke County Parks usually evokes thoughts of nature, the park district also does a great deal to preserve the historical heritage of Darke County. “We work hand in hand with the museum,” Van Frank went on. “Both maintain historical heritage in two completely different ways.”

The parks’ mission statement says, “The mission of Darke County Park District is to acquire and preserve land areas possessing special natural and historical features and to manage and maintain these resources for the benefit of its residents through appropriate educational and passive recreational programs and activities.”

“We try to keep all facets of history alive,” said Van Frank. “We’re thankful for the foresight of Judge Edward Williams, who created the park district, and the original commissioners, Susan Gray, Dan Schipfer, and Dr. David Cox.” The park district was created in 1972 and Coppess Nature Sanctuary became the first park in 1974. The Park District had an office at 601 S. Broadway until the Nature Center opened in 1997.

Garst Museum and the Park District often cooperate on projects. Both host many school tours during the year, and the students often spend half a day at the museum and the other half at the Nature Center. They also work together on the Gathering at Garst, which has made people more aware of the history of the county, as well as attracting many visitors to the area. The Gathering makes use of the Anthony Wayne Peace Council House and the newly-built Bowery. Both are located at Prairie Ridge Park, adjacent to the Garst Museum.

Darke County Parks also have several historical festivals. The largest is Prairie Days, which occurs on the last weekend of September. The two-day festival celebrates the past with demonstrations of 18th century skills, a tent where children can play old-fashioned games and try their hand at historical crafts, an encampment, pioneer living activities, and entertainment.

Other festivals include their Maple Syrup Festival in March, “Sugarin’ at the Prairie,” and their December “Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland.” The March festival includes a waffle breakfast and tours of the sugarbush and sugar shack. The December event features a walk through the woods and along the road to the blacksmith shop and log house. The path is marked with hundreds of luminaries containing candles. The blacksmith demonstrates his craft and at the log house, refreshments are served and children can participate in old-time crafts.

The log house at Shawnee Prairie Preserve was built using donated logs from several old log houses in the area. The house is the site of many historical programs, including pioneer cooking demonstrations. Volunteers in costume, staff the house when it is open. Each fall, several Candlelight Dinners are held in the house. These feature food from the log house era (1790-1820) served by volunteers in pioneer garb.

The blacksmith shop gives insight into the importance of a blacksmith in a pioneer society. Visitors can observe a blacksmith at work on Saturday afternoons and during the festivals.

The sugar shack makes it possible for volunteers to boil down sap collected in the area and make maple syrup the way it was made in pioneer days. Many school children, as well as adults, tour the sugar shack each spring.

All these buildings were mainly built by park volunteers.

The Park District offers many historical programs during the year. Some examples in the past year include “The Rock Man,” a program by geologist Mike Manning, “Sharks through the Ages,” by Dr. Chuck Ciampaglio, basket weaving, broom making, local expert Mick Maher’s program, “Roundup at Custer State Park,” a living history hike, a program on survival skills, local author Elaine Holzapfel’s book signing for her new geology book, and a recent encampment with demonstrations by the Ohio Valley Civil War Association. Some of the summer day camps for children also have historical themes. Last year children learned what it was like “Back in the Day,” and this year one of the choices is a survival camp.

The Darke County Historical Society presented the 2016 Heritage Award to the Darke County Park District at the Society’s annual meeting on March 22, 2016.

With this crazy weather we've been having do you find yourself with a case of the blahs? Do you find yourself over-eating? Do you want to eat healthier, perhaps lose some weight? Could you use some support and encouragement? Would you like to make new friends? If so, you might want to check out our group. We are known as the "Little by Little" Weight Loss Support Group.

We meet the first Tuesday of each month in the basement of the East Main Church of Christ, at 419 East Main Street, here in Greenville. Doors open approx 5:15, with the meeting starting at 6:00. Meetings last approx one hour, give or take a few minutes depending on what we have planned. There are no membership fees. Most of the members have had weight loss surgery, but there are also some that haven't. So feel free to come even if you don't plan on having surgery. This is a group for adult men and women, 18 and over. Those under 18 are welcome but need to have an adult present with them.

We also do healthy food demonstrations. If you need help to make out a healthy grocery list, or would like to learn how to plan healthy meals, we can help with that also. We recently celebrated our 8 year Anniversary. We are not doctors so discuss any medical questions you might have with your family doctor.

There's a lift chair available if you can't do steps. If interested in attending, feel free to message Tammy at tammy9157@roadrunner.com or you can reach her at 937-621-5129 if you have any questions. Feel free to bring a family member or a friend along.

DAYTON, Ohio – Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln in Greenville will help boost blood donations during the busy Memorial Day holiday week with a blood drive Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The Community Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at 500 Wagner Ave. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.

CBC is offering the “We’re Wild About Blood Donors” t-shirt as a gift to everyone who registers to donate May 2 through June 11 at a CBC Donor Center or most CBC blood drives. Everyone age 18 and older who registers to donate with CBC from May 2 through Sept. 3 will be entered in the drawing to win a custom-designed Alaska vacation for two in the “Wild About Alaska Adventure for Two Summer Blood Drive.”

The grand prize includes air travel to Alaska, deluxe accommodations during your week-long stay, and options for a cruise or land travel. The vacation is for the winning donor and a travel companion.

Donors can double their chances of winning by donating early in the summer and becoming eligible to donate again. They can enter the drawing a second time when they register for a second donation during the blood drive period.

AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TIME & SUMMER FOR DONATING

The Memorial Day weekend is the kick-off to summer, a time when high schools are on summer break, families are taking vacations, and outdoor activities are heating up. All this can disrupt donation schedules and challenge the regional blood supply.

In addition, CBC is taking cautions against the Zika virus. Potential donors who have traveled to Zika endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America are deferred from donating for 28 days. The restriction is expected to decrease the number of eligible donors by approximately 2.25 percent.

There are more challenges to face this summer. As of May 23, a change in FDA regulation requires a higher hemoglobin level for male donors. The current 12.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl) requirement for donating will increase to 13.0 g/dl for males. (The female requirement will remain at 12.5 g/dl). CBC estimates the new hemoglobin requirement, coupled with stricter pulse screening requirements, could have an impact of up to six percent in the donor deferral rate.

World War I ended on November 11, 1918 at Versailles France. Not long after that 25 year old Homer Prakel returned safely back home. This Memorial Day 97 years later Homer Prakel’s WWI uniform will come home again to the Versailles Area Museum. This gracious loan has been made possible by our friends at the Garst Museum of Greenville.

Mr. Prakel continued the family tradition upon his return as his father; August began in kindness in spirit, generous in his church and community, and leadership for the entire community.

What makes Mr. Prakel’s uniform so special is that there were no special services at that time. Yet Prakel was sent into Russia as an undercover agent of the United States military. The uniform was tailored in Paris and has many special features, unique to this group.
Many Versailles area boys served with distinction as part of the 104 which held reunions annually until their 50th anniversary which incidentally was planned by Mr. Prakel who passed away several months before the event and was hosted in Versailles with Clarence Pittsenbarger taking charge.

During the next few months stop by the museum and enjoy this display in our fabulous Military Room featuring Civil War to the present military uniforms and other items. We continue to collect unique items other that uniforms from the 20th century, if you would be interested in making a loan of military items pre WWI, please call the museum at 937-526-4222.

On May 30th join us at the Museum as our Military Room will be set for quiet reflection on this day of remembrance. Of special interest is the Missing Soldier Table, set for the soldier who hasn’t come home yet. We will be open from noon till 4:00 p.m. and invite you to add a little history to your summer week-end kick off with us.

We always knew it was spring when the birds started their sweet songs outside our windows just as the sun came up. In school we studied the birds, colored pictures and created Bird Books to keep track of all the birds we would see over our summer recess. Today we are so busy with testing there isn’t time for these activities for our youth, yet many of us still remember our special bird collections.

Sadly many of the beauties we included are not found in eastern Darke County any longer. The bird population has changed as well as their environment.

On Monday May 23 at 1:00 p.m. our “Last Monday” (a week early because of Memorial Day) will feature local bird enthusiast, Bob Luttmer who will help explain why so many of our favorites are gone and what we might do to help bring them back!

Bring your questions and your friends and join us for an afternoon of indoor bird watching and remembering the birds of our youth. As always the museum will be open and lite refreshments are served with conversation to close out our time together.

On May 30th join us as our Military Room will be set for quiet reflection on this day of remembrance. We will be open from noon till 4:00 p.m. and invite you to add a little history to your summer week-end kick off with us.

Sparks fly from the forge as another useful tool begins to take shape.

Darke County Parks is looking for anyone interested in the time honored trade of blacksmithing. People have been working iron for over 3500 years, and until the, relatively, recent past, the blacksmith was the hub of the community. Everything from carriage springs to horseshoes and meat forks to roofing nails came from the blacksmith’s shop. It is that heritage from over 200 years ago that the blacksmith shop at Shawnee Prairie Preserve is trying to honor.

The park district is particularly interested in those with experience in the blacksmith trade, especially Master Blacksmiths, but will take anyone with a passion to learn. To inquire about volunteering to work in the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Blacksmith Shop, please call the park office at (937) 548-0165. For general information about any Darke County Parks or the park programs, email info@darkecountyparks.org or call the number above.

Pictured above are students that recently attended the 88th Ohio State FFA Convention from Mississinawa Valley FFA.

The Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC FFA Chapter attended Ohio’s State FFA Convention on May 5th and 6th 2016. The Convention was held in Columbus, Ohio at the State Fairgrounds. The chapter decided to provide strength in numbers as they paired up with the Franklin Monroe FFA chapter for the event. Mississinawa Valley- MVCTC members that attended were Leslie Dirksen, Megan Wilson, Kasey Hummel, Hope Jankowski, Shelby Manning, Shaiann Livingston, Darin Miller, Thomas Schmitz, Madison Stachler, Kelsie Hunt, Grant Stachler, Will Hall, Justin Miller, Olivia Murphy, Sidnie Hunt, Mason Hiestand, Cody Dirksen, Blake Scholl, Emily Schmitz and Mason Hummel. Advisors Gwen Bergman, Carmen Hartzell, and Franklin Monroe advisor, Kevin Bergman, attended as well. Mississinawa Valley- MVCTC FFA member, Megan Wilson, was a member of the state chorus during this trip for the third year in a row.

On Thursday, the members arrived in Columbus, enjoyed a decadent meal at the Spaghetti Warehouse, and explored the Expo Center before attending the first session of the convention. During this session, the Mississinawa Valley- MVCTC FFA chapter was recognized for the generous donation made to Children’s Hospital from our annual Dance Marathon charity event, and it was accepted by Shaiann Livingston on behalf of the chapter. After a full day of action packed experiences, including the talent show and keynote speaker, Tiana Tozer, the students enjoyed a trip to the Polaris Mall and Jeni’s Ice Cream Shop. The members were encouraged to branch out of their comfort zones and try new things on their own.

On Friday, students attended the third session, where officers who received gold ratings on their books were announced. Those students were 2015-2016 Secretary, Hope Jankowski and 2015-2016 Treasurer, Madison Stachler. After eating lunch and meeting up with parents of State Degree Recipients, students went to the fifth and final session of the convention. The State Degree Recipients for this year were Leslie Dirksen, Megan Wilson, Hope Jankowski, Zach Dirmeyer, Darin Miller, Shelby Manning, Thomas Schmitz, and Madison Stachler. During this session, the chapter was recognized for its accomplishments in the Agronomy Career Development Event as well. The agronomy team received a banner for 5th place in the high school division and 1st place in the junior high division. 8th grader, Mason Hummel received an award as well for placing 1st individually in the junior high division. As always, the students had a blast and are already looking forward to next year’s convention. Mississinawa Valley- MVCTC Agriculture Program is a satellite of Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

Students spread fresh mulch across the buriedcrawling tunnels in the Natural Play Area.

Recently students from the Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES) partnered with the Darke County Park District to make the parks a healthier, prettier, safer, and more fun place to explore, learn, and enjoy. They worked hard putting down fresh mulch in the Natural Play Area which caters to exploratory play for all ages in a natural setting. Over 200 lbs. of trash made its way from the trails and grounds of the parks to the dumpster where it belongs. The students also removed invasive plants making more room for native varieties and planted new trees in areas where the emerald ash borer has killed off many existing ones. The Darke County Park District would like to extend a huge thank you to ACES for all their hard work to make the parks even better.

ACES is an alternative education program for students in grades 9 through 12 who are credit deficient or looking for an alternative learning environment. The program is designed with a philosophy that all students can learn and can succeed when the conditions are conducive to their personal and educational needs. The mission is to provide a structured and supportive environment for students who need a different educational choice in order for them to thrive. The coursework includes focused and specialized curriculum for the students. The program also incorporates activities and services that promote personal development, address prevention and intervention.

For information on how groups or individuals can get involved and volunteer with Darke County Parks, please call or email Volunteer Coordinator, Kathi McQueen at (937) 548-0165 or kmcqueen@darkecountyparks.org.

It’s hard to believe, but local farmers markets will be opening up in a couple weeks. In addition to local farmers markets I am seeing an increase in the number of niche markets that many local farmers have entered into. I hope you will get out and support our local farmers and producers.

Or maybe you are thinking of selling agricultural products yourself. One common question I get relates to selling eggs and meat from the farm or home. Emily Buxton Adams, Coshocton County Educator, recently shared some of these rules.

Eggs: In Ohio, we can sell eggs from our farms without an inspection or license as long as we maintain 500 or fewer birds. If you decide to sell eggs off your farm, at a farmers market, restaurant or retail store, then requirements are different. The Ohio Department of Agriculture will need to inspect your farm. They will make sure that water quality is acceptable for washing eggs, that the refrigerator is in working order, and that egg cartons are labeled properly. The only time that a license is required to sell eggs is when selling off farm at a farmers market. This Mobile Retail Food Establishment license can be obtained from our local county health department for $147.00.

Poultry Meat: If a farmer raises fewer than 1,000 birds, they may slaughter and process these birds on farm to sell directly to the consumer. This can be done without an inspection or license. There is a state-inspected poultry facility North of Gettysburg called Kings Poultry Farm. If your birds are processed in this facility, you may sell them on farm as well as off farm.

Red Meat: There is only one way red meat can be sold to the public: It has been processed in a federal/state inspected processing facility. The meat package will bear the Ohio inspection identification mark. There are 227 fully inspected operators in Ohio. If you are interested in selling freezer beef, pork or lamb, you can work with a processor to have customers pick up meat directly from the processor. In this case, there is no license required by the farmer. If you desire to sell cuts out of your farm or home freezer, you are required to have a MRFE license from the County Health Department.

For more information about OSU Extension, Darke County, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu or the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page.

Lora Berning of Anna, Ohio, will be working with Darke, Mercer, Auglaize and Miami County OSU Extension as their Agronomic Crop Research Experience (ACRE) Intern.

Started in 2015, the ACRE Internship is designed for undergraduate students to provide rich training experience and work with county educators on-farm trials. The primary responsibilities of the ACRE intern are to assist with crop scouting, sample collection, field data collection, laboratory analysis, data entry, field plot maintenance, crop reporting and other activities related to research, extension and outreach.

She is a 2014 graduate of Anna High School and lives on her family’s dairy farm. Berning is in her third year at Wright State University-Lake Campus pursuing her Bachelor degree in Agriculture.

At the Lake Campus she is the Agriculture Program Assistant with the responsibilities of the development of new courses and to further promote the Agriculture Program. She is the President of Wright State University-Lake Campus Collegiate Young Farmers, and a member of Shelby County Farm Bureau.

Last year Berning had an agronomy internship with Mercer Landmark. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she plans on working at an agricultural company in the area, work towards getting her master’s degree and to be involved in the community.

For more information about OSU Extension, Darke County, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu or the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page.

The Greenville Public Library is thrilled to be the recipient of a beautiful work of art donated by Jim & Enid Goubeaux. “We purchased this painting in New York in 1999 and it has hung in our home since that time,“ they shared. Avid art collectors for many years they wanted to find a home for News for the Delphi Oracle before their upcoming move to Chicago.

Now the 39 X 27 inch pastel on linen hangs by the Reference Desk on the second floor of the Library. Jim & Enid felt this spot was appropriate because the painting has a “library” theme. As with any work of art it draws in the viewer to appreciate ever greater levels of subtlety.

They explained “It was painted by an artist named Michele Zalopany. The works of this artist have been exhibited in a number of museums across the country including the Whitney in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.”

Zalopany was born in Detroit Michigan in 1955 and lives and works in New York City and Sutri Italy. She is currently a professor at the School of Visual Arts and a Visiting Lecturer at Harvard University. More of her works can be seen at www.michelezalopany.com.

The Goubeaux’s are patrons of the performing arts as well as the visual arts and have sponsored numerous DCCA events at the Memorial Hall in Greenville as well as having been music supporters regionally. Many people have enjoyed spectacular concerts thanks to their generosity.

They joked that people collect art until they run out of wall space. Their new apartment holds much of their original collection. The Library is happy this piece is to stay in town.

Many thanks to Jim & Enid for this lasting legacy. “We hope that it will enjoy it’s new home in our beautiful Greenville Carnegie Library and that it will be enjoyed by the people of Darke County as much as we have.”

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Making the presentation to City of Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers was l-r Arbor day chairpersons Haley Baker of the Butterflies Junior Garden Club and Barbara Skinner, Vice President and Arbor Day chairperson for the Ladybug’s.

The Ladybug Garden Club and Butterflies Junior Garden Club helped to beautify the Greenville City Parks selecting an October Glory Red Maple tree for Arbor Day.

October Glory Red Maple (Acer rubrum October Glory) is known for its rapid growth and enduring fall color. In fact, its “October Glory” display of orange-red leaves lasts far longer than many other Maples. It would look spectacular to its narrow, upward growth.

The October Glory Maple is one of the most popular Maples for many reasons. Tiny spots of fiery red flower clusters appear on the bare branches in the spring while the rest of your yard is still muted in browns and greys.

The birds will flock to the small, elongated red fruits that accompany the flowers on the October Glory Red Maple tree.

The October Glory can reach heights of 50' tall and 40' wide. It’s far more tolerant of some soil and weather conditions than other Maples, and forgiving of a neglectful nature.

The clubs encourage families and friends to make a $150.00 donation selecting either an October Glory Maple, Red Sunset Maple, Armstrong Maple, Sugar Maple or Red Oak Maple to the City Parks. A donation form can be found on the cityofgreenville.org website.

Greenville, OH May 16, 2016 The Foundation Committee of the Greenville Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) hosted the May 12th meeting which was held at the Brethren Retirement Community. The committee consisted of Lindsey Gehret and Betty Kosier.

The program for the evening featured Wayne Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Lauren Henry. She shared the foundation’s mission which is “Collaborating through philanthropy with Wayne HealthCare in order to enhance community education and wellness close to home.” She told her personal story of her Mother’s treatment of scleroderma at Wayne and how that has led her to her current position. Wayne Healthcare Foundation is reaching out to the community with many programs including AED programs, scholarships, monthly diabetes education classes, Darke County Wellness Challenge, and Smoking Cessation Programs to mention just a few. In addition, they conduct tours of the facilities for all ages from kindergarten through senior citizens. She also talked about the last expansion phase for the hospital which will include a new obstetrics unit, wellness center and private in-patient rooms.

Following the program, officers for 2016-2017 were sworn in to office by current president, Deb Smith. New officers are President Brenda Miller, Vice President Jane Carroll, Secretary Susan Fowble, Treasurer Dorothy Poeppelman and Assistant Treasurer Lindsey Gehret.

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The Club holds fundraisers through the year to raise money to grant scholarships to the young women of Darke County. The Club meets the second Thursday of every month for a dinner meeting. Those interested in learning more about the Club can contact Membership Chair Brenda Miller at 937-996-1741 or through brenda@newmadisonpubliclibrary.org

Warm weather fun is finally here and as you make your summer plans be sure to include Lunch on the Lawn! This popular event is held the first Friday of June, July, and August from 11:30 to 1:00 on the beautiful Greenville Public Library lawn under the shade trees. Box lunches are available from one of the local eateries and tables & chairs are set up - or bring your own lunch, chairs, or blanket. Or just stop by to enjoy the free entertainment provided by outstanding artists from the area.

These events are in partnership with Mainstreet Greenville’s First Fridays. In case of extreme heat or rain we will move inside to the First United Methodist Church on the corner of West Fourth and Sycamore Streets.

Join us June 3rd to kick off the season! Pick up your box lunch at the white tent for $7 provided by Brenda’s Beanery. The menu is a Sandwich (choice of ham & cheese or turkey cranberry), Salad (choice of broccoli or bacon pasta ranch), Scone, Drink (ginger peach tea, plain iced tea, lemonade, or bottled water).

A special treat awaits the crowd with American Idol semi-finalist Alexis Gomez providing the music! Her online bio reads “Alexis Gomez is much more than just another fresh voice for Country music. While she was known as the "Mexican, Hillbilly, Hippie" on American Idol (Season 14), she's much more than that.”

The multi-instrumentalist has been singing for as long as she remembers. As a teen she was already getting attention and winning contests in her home state of Ohio. That led to shows opening for artists such as Montgomery Gentry, Cassadee Pope, Clint Black, Old Dominion and others.

She says ”As an artist I hope to be able to create music that people want to sing and listen to. I would also love to bring something a little different to Country music, which is where I hope to weave some of my Mexican heritage into my music." When she's not singing, she’s hiking and enjoying the outdoors, participating at her church, or rebuilding and racing cars!

Looking forward to seeing you June 3rd! Come and bring family and friends!

Versailles Health Care Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, was among thousands of nursing facilities throughout the nation that celebrated National Nursing Home Week, May 8th through the 14th. The celebration featured the theme “It’s a Small World with Big Heart”. This year’s theme underscored the bond between staff, residents and patients, and their families. Versailles Health Care Center held a week-long carnival and fun fair which created positive interactions between the residents and patients and their families and friends. Special activities included Musical Entertainment by Dan Anderson featuring songs “It’s a Small World After All” and “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”, Crazy Craig’s Juggling Act, Stan the Magic Man Show, Caricatures by Shelly, Big Top photo booth, carnival games, and king and queen crowning to represent VHCC in the 65th Annual Versailles Poultry Days Parade. Cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream treats, lemonade shake-ups, fair fries, walking tacos, snow cones, and many more treats were served in keeping with the fair-like atmosphere.

Staff held a door decorating contest and residents voted on the winner with the winner receiving a $50 gift. The door decorating contest winner was the Housekeeping and Laundry Department. Also, each day staff members were encouraged to stop by the office of choice for the day and nominate one of their co-workers to show their appreciation for someone’s kindnesses. At the end of the week, the staff member with the most nominations received a gift basket. The winner of the Random Acts of Big Heartedness was Karen Stanley from the Laundry Department.

Kristy Earick, CEO/Administrator at Versailles Health Care Center, said “Every year we have fun celebrating National Nursing Home Week. It’s a great time to encourage everyone to interact with each other. This year’s theme was all about promoting VHCC as the place where the pursuit of health and happiness occurs and what a better way to do that than holding a week-long carnival and fun fair!” Versailles Health Care Center offers short-term rehab services, outpatient therapy, and long-term care. If you are interested in learning more about Versailles Health Care Center, please call at 937-526-5570 or visit on the web at www.versailleshealthcare.com. For more information on National Nursing Week, visit www.nnhw.org.

Steve Baker, WHIO-TV Northern Bureau Chief, is presented with an honorary degree from Edison State President, Dr. Doreen Larson, and Edison State Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Darryl Mehaffie.

Edison State Community College presented Steve Baker, WHIO-TV’s northern bureau chief, with an honorary degree of associate of humanities during the college’s 41st annual spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13.

Having attended Edison State in the mid-seventies, Baker was presented with the honorary degree in recognition of his significant contributions to the College, the State of Ohio, and attainment of eminence in his professional field.

An expert in the fields of journalism and news coverage, Baker began his career in Piqua at a local radio station in 1970. In the 1980, Steve began reporting for Channel 7 news in Miami, Darke, Shelby, Mercer, and Auglaize counties as a “one-man band,” which is how he continues to work today.

Dr. Doreen Larson, president of Edison State commended Baker for his dedication to his work. “Steve’s ability to capture the real-life stories as they relate to our area have garnered him accolades and respect from peers around.”

Baker is a Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee and has received numerous awards, including the National Leadership Award, Troy Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of the Year, and commendations from the Ohio News Photographers Association.

“When it comes to outstanding journalism, Steve rises to the top and is head and shoulders above the rest,” Larson added.

Steve is married to his wife, Marty, and together they have two grown children and four grandchildren.

The school year is winding down, and all thoughts turn to summer. The Arcanum Public Library is finishing up planning for the very popular Summer Reading Program, and is looking forward to all of the fun!

The theme for this year is “Get in the Game: Read!” Our reading program and all of the activities are geared toward health, fitness, wellness, and fun! Registration will begin on Monday, June 6. Kids and adults are both welcome to register. We have plenty of programs designed for the youngest of our patrons, and activities that all ages can enjoy. Our kickoff event will be on Friday, June 17th at 10:00am. “Poof Daddy” will be here with a great show filled with fun, magic, and comedy. We are looking forward to providing our patrons with movie Wednesdays, multiple craft days, a mini-Olympics, and much more. Come in to register the week of June 6 – 11 and take home a calendar!

We would like to remind everyone our annual book sale will continue through May 27th in our upstairs meeting room. Come take a look, and take home a book (or more!). Also, the library is in the process of planning beginner crochet classes, so stay tuned for more information.

As always, feel free to call us at 937-692-8484 if you have any questions. You can also visit our website at www.arcanumpubliclibrary.org, or come see us on Facebook.

Second year agriculture students, Daisy Brim, Bailey Johnson, and Olivia Murphy taught students about the life cycle of a chick!

On Friday, April 22, the Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC FFA chapter held its annual Food for America Day. The second-year agricultural students planned the event which consisted of a petting zoo and several stations to educate children about the different aspects of agriculture. During the day students from Kindergarten through 3rd grade came to see the different stations. At each station, presenters shared about different agricultural topics. The stations included proper hand washing techniques, soil and how it helps our environment, growing soybeans, aquaculture, and learning different facts about animals. Each station included hands-on activities as well as a presentation about the information for each of the topics. The activities included learning about how to be safe around horses, learning the layers of soil and eating dirt pudding, milking a cow, and learning about aquaculture.

The day was an educational experience for the younger children as well as the high schoolers, who planned the whole day and took on the leadership positions. Paxton Scholl served as co-chair to this event. She shared, “The co-chairs and students all did a fantastic job at working together and managing their time to make this event a success.” Food for America day was a big success and hopefully will continue being successful for years to come.

Mississinawa Valley- MVCTC Agriculture Program is a satellite of Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

The Versailles AfterProm committee would like to thank everyone involved in helping put on a very successful and fun-filled evening for our juniors and seniors. Special thanks to Johns IGA for donating the water and pop for the event. Also thanks to Ken DeMange for being Emcee and Scott Peters for providing music for the evening. A big thank you goes out to all of the businesses, clubs, individuals and parents who donated money or prizes. Thank you for your support of this great event!Main Event Sponsor: Versailles Council of Churches

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Greenville, OH May 16, 2016 - The Greenville Business & Professional Women’s (BPW) Club is sponsoring a fundraiser selling BBQ Chicken Dinners on Wednesday, June 22nd. Pre-sale tickets are $7.50. The deadline to purchase tickets is June 12th.

The dinners consist of one half barbeque chicken, applesauce, chips, and roll and butter. Dinners may be picked up or you can dine in on June 22 between 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Greenville VFW, 219 N. Ohio St., Greenville. Tickets can be reserved by calling Deb Niekamp at (419) 305-2178 or can be purchased at Financial Achievement Services, Inc. 5116 Children’s Home Bradford Road, The Early Bird, 5312 Sebring Warner Road, the New Madison Public Library, 142 N Main St, or from any BPW Club Member.

All profits will go toward scholarships to be awarded to the young women of Darke County. The Greenville BPW Club thanks you for your support.

Anna Lee Dickerson, Judi Pence and Patty Foreman stand behind the benchthey purchased and placed on the Darke County Fairgrounds in honor of their parentsWeb and Dorothy Ganger.

The Darke County Fair Board and the Darke County Solid Waste Management District are placing another order for Memorial benches. These six foot long benches are made from recycled milk jugs as a lasting tribute to family and friends and will be placed around the Gazebo and other areas of the Fairgrounds for Fairgoers to enjoy the festivities of the Fair.

These benches may be purchased and lettered as a lasting memorial to a loved one, as an advertisement and donation from your business, or just a donation from your family to the Fair. These benches will quickly become a benefit to the entire community and be enjoyed by Fairgoers for generations to come. Businesses wanting to purchase a bench can have it personalized with their logo for no extra charge.

The cost per bench, which includes lettering, is $550.00 and the order deadline to ensure delivery prior to the 2016 Fair is June 30. For more information or to order call Krista Fourman @ 937-547-0827, or the Fair Office @ 937-548-5044. Order forms can be found on the district website, www.co.darke.oh.us/solidwaste.

Susan Barker and Jeff Kniese of Greenville Federal are shown at the annual Track and Field Event for Darke County Special Olympics, held recently on May 13. They served as Awards Presenters, shown here with some of the student athletes after they presented ribbons to (left to right): Mason Lanhan, Tri-Village Elem. and Michael Grider, Mason Perkins and Austin Rehmert from Greenville South Middle following the completion of the 200 m. run. Darke County Special Olympics has year-long volunteer led and coached programming serving over 300 students in softball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, Unified golf and swimming besides the annual Track and Field event.

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I am a huge fan of your website. It brings more useful information than the newspaper does and even though I am attending college and am away from home, I still check out your website about once a day to keep up on local events.

I just love your website. It's better than any newspaper or TV program. Keep up the good work.

I like the DJ because it just gives the facts pure and simple. I also like to read what the readers think. You keep up the good work & you will grow!

I am so glad that I found this site. It is so nice to have such an upbeat & unbiased Darke County news. I look forward to checking it each day. I just found it this month. Plus, I can feel free to voice my concerns on issues. Great web site!

When I turn on my computer in the morning, I check the weather and Darke Journal before anything else. Thank you for the pix & info on this site. It's nice to know what's going on in our great Darke County.

You are doing a great service and this is a great media outlet!

It just gets better and better! Truly, the 'mix' is what makes it so good for all readers.

DJ = nice guy, but should relinquish his website duties.

This is a wonderful site! I am so glad there is a place in this community where people can voice their opinion about issues. In the past for many years this community seems to be run by so called political people with others hiding in the brush waiting to inform their leaders of those who disagree with an issue on hand, just so they can point them out and try to ruin their life. Again I am so glad finally, an average Joe can make an Anonymous posted opinion and not fear that they will be pointed at or looked down for stating how they feel. Thank you D. J.

It’s better than most of the media available in and around Darke County.

The web site has had steadily increasing viewership over the last year or two and, at least in my opinion, has become a major player in getting news and commentary to Darke Countians.